Favorite NYC Hotels
Why do I list so few hotels?
Has to do with “Keeping it simple” … if you want to know more, click here and I’ll explain my approach.
LIPSTICK GETAWAYS RECOMMENDED NYC HOTELS
All of the following are 3- or 4-star hotels, located in Midtown.
Affinia 50
155 E. 50th St. (btw. Third and Lexington Aves.)
207 rooms (standards, studios, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom suites)
Formerly the Plaza 50, the Affinia 50 was updated and reopened in fall 2004. Has perhaps a bit less “personality” than some other LG favorites, but offers good value and a great Midtown East location.
Unusually spacious rooms with new furnishings; many rooms/suites include kitchens or kitchenettes; luxurious, comfy “Affinia bed” and pillow menu. Enjoy light breakfast (it was about $10 when I was there) or evening glass of wine in the second floor Club Room.
Casablanca Hotel
143 West 43rd Street
48 rooms
Often the #1 choice on Tripadvisor, the Casablanca is a small, reasonably-priced boutique hotel with a Moroccan theme in the Times Square area. (I still prefer to avoid staying near Times Square — too hectic, noisy, crowded, and touristy — but the Casablanca is a very good choice.)
There are many, many repeat guests who make the Casablanca their first choice. They like the rates, the friendly, helpful staff and nicely decorated, clean, good-sized rooms. Rick’s Café – a lounge for hotel guests only — features a complimentary extended Continental breakfast, beverages and cookies available all day, weekday evening wine and cheese, and a free use of a computer with internet. My BFF Shirley had a successful stay here with her mother and her two teenage daughters.
Hotel Elysee
60 E. 54th Street (betw. Madison and Park)
101 rooms: 86 deluxe, 3 Jr. Suites, 10 Suites, 1 Royal Suite, 1 Piano Suite
An unbeatable location; elegant, yet comfortable Country French style; intimate atmosphere, attentive service; outstanding features and amenities, fun bar. A more upscale sister to the Casablanca.
The Club Room is the hotel’s “living room,” a pleasant place to relax, where a lovely complimentary breakfast is served each morning, coffee, tea, and cookies all day long, and wine and hors d’oeuvres on weekday evenings. The recently renovated Monkey Bar and Grill has been a lively and popular watering hole since the 1930’s, and was recently voted the No. 1 bar in NYC in a Gourmet Magazine readers’ poll.
Fitzpatrick Grand Central
144 E 44th Street (@ Lexington)
144 rooms (22 with two double beds), 8 suites, and a penthouse level with the Liam Neeson Penthouse suite and two garden suites.
One of two hotels owned and operated in NYC by the Irish-owned Fitzpatrick Hotel Group (the other is the Fitzpatrick Manhattan, listed below). The Fitzpatrick Grand Central is conveniently located across from Grand Central Terminal.
Both properties are warm and inviting with a friendly, attentive staff, and feature nice, traditionally-decorated rooms with extra amenities: In-room coffee and tea makers, mini-fridge, complimentary bottled water, robes.
Fitzpatrick Manhattan
687 Lexington (between 56th and 57th St.)
40 rooms (6 with two double beds), 46 one-bedroom suites (6 with two double beds and a pullout couch) and 6 presidential suites.
Like the Fitzpatrick Grand Central listed above, the Fitzpatrick Manhattan is a deluxe, boutique hotel with an Irish flair and hospitality. Rooms and amenities similar to the Fitzpatrick Grand Central, with in-room coffee and tea, mini-fridge, robes. A great location close to Bloomingdales, Fifth Avenue shopping, and Central Park.
Sofitel New York
45 West 44th Street, btw 5th and 6th Aves.
398 rooms and suites; some rooms with two twin beds.A TripAdvisor 2008 Traveler’s Choice winner, The Sofitel is a worthwhile splurge if you want a little more luxury.
An unbeatable location; rooms and suites are modern and elegant, quiet, and spacious by NYC standards. Consistently rave reviews for service, quality, and luxury, and the huge marble bathrooms (every review seems to mention them, and they really are lovely!).
Highly recommended by all the travel guides, including this one! (But can be pricey, look for deals.)
The Roger Smith Hotel
501 Lexington (@ E. 47th St)
130 rooms and suites, in a wide variety of configurations (king, queen, double/double, twin/twin, junior suites, one bedroom suites, etc.)
“According to owner/sculptor/designer/creative leader, James Knowles, the Roger Smith is a work of art in progress … Think of us as a comfortable, casual, urban bed & breakfast with reasonable rates.”
Hmmm … when you visit the Roger Smith’s website you might wonder, as I did, whether this hotel is as charming as it sounds or just … weird.
I have toured (but not stayed at) the Roger Smith and can report that it is, indeed, charming. However, do visit the hotel’s website, to get a sense of whether it appeals to you.
The atmosphere is low-key, friendly, and “artistic.” Owned and operated by the same family for over 75 years, the Roger Smith features spacious rooms and suites, individually decorated (by the owner’s wife). All rooms contain refrigerators. A very nice continental breakfast in included. Some suites are more like apartments. Call and speak with the helpful staff regarding which type of room or suite fits your needs. Rates are very reasonable.
The Warwick
65 W. 54th Street (between Fifth and Sixth Ave)
359 rooms (many with two double beds), 67 suites (including 15 “Premier Suites” with all kinds of fun luxuries!)
Built by William Randolph Hearst in 1927 as a New York hideaway for his Hollywood friends, the Warwick has long been a favorite of the arts and entertainment crowd who appreciate its location, elegance, and privacy. It’s kinda fun knowing that Elvis Presley, The Beatles, James Dean, and Elizabeth Taylor were regular guests! Cary Grant lived in an apartment at the Warwick for 12 years.
The oversized rooms are very pretty; double paned windows ensure they are quiet even when facing busy Sixth Ave. The lobby is welcoming and intimate, and the staff is gracious and helpful.
